This festive season, I’m thrilled to share an engaging art project that brings the joy of the holidays into your classroom. As the students (and, let’s be honest, the teachers) start to lose focus, it’s nice to have an easy art activity with a 99 percent beautiful outcome.

The tradition of gingerbread houses has deep roots in various cultures, with origins traced back to medieval Europe. Initially inspired by the Brothers Grimm fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel,” where a house made of sweets captivates young imaginations, the tradition evolved over the centuries. In Germany, it became popular during the 16th century, associated with the festive season. Today, creating gingerbread houses has become a cherished holiday activity in many parts of the world, symbolizing warmth, creativity, and the joy of the season.
Read more at: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2018/dec/22/a-brief-history-of-the-gingerbread-house

Let’s create gingerbread houses using brown cardboard (or craft paper) and tempera paint (or acrylic marker)!

This lesson accommodates various age groups, from elementary to middle and high school. Works with limited supplies too (white tempera paint and cardboard). The roll-and-draw chart guides your students, ensuring a beautiful outcome and fostering confidence-building. This activity can help you maintain your sanity in December! Enjoy a sense of holiday cheer in your classroom with this easy-to-implement art project.

Preparation:

1. Download the lesson (The lesson is available at my TpT shop! Click here!) and either print it or project the roll-and-draw chart on the wall.
2. Print the house templates; use the smaller size if working with acrylic markers and the larger size if painting with tempera.
3. For younger students, cut out the houses in advance. Older students can draw and cut thinner cardboard or kraft brown paper by themselves (consider creating cardboard templates for tracing or printing the templates directly on kraft paper).

Equip your students with:

• Acrylic markers OR
• White tempera paint, a thin paintbrush, a water bowl, and small trays for the paint.
• Pencils and scissors (only if they will be drawing and cutting the houses themselves).
• A dice
• Cardboard house shapes OR
• Cardboard or brown paper rectangles (if your students will be drawing and cutting the houses themselves).

Lets get creative!

1. Roll the dice to determine the shapes and patterns you’ll draw. Each roll corresponds to a column on the worksheet.
2. Let the dice determine the form of the gingerbread house.
3. Color the edge of the cardboard house white.
4. Roll the dice to decide on the door design.
5. Roll the dice to decide on the window shapes.
6. Roll the dice to decide on the pattern of the skirting.
7. Roll the dice to decide on the roof pattern.
8. Now, it’s time to add decorations! Roll the dice or choose some patterns to enhance your gingerbread house.
9. Let your creativity flow and make your gingerbread house even more beautiful by adding more decorations!

You will receive:

• A Roll-and-draw chart
• A teacher guide
• Step-by-step directions with photos and text
• Templates for the shapes of the houses
• Photos featuring example works (both acrylic marker and tempera paint)
• A brief description of the origin of the gingerbread houses

The package includes various versions:

• A non-editable PDF printable with both color and black-and-white versions
• A non-editable PDF slideshow
• Google Drive Access Link

So if you are looking for an activity to engage your upper elementary, middle, or high school students before the holiday begins, don’t hesitate! Explore this art and craft lesson that will keep your students engaged! Spice up your art room with beautiful winter drawings!

The lesson is available at my TpT shop! Click here!